Jump to section
Technical & Strategic
Co-Founding
We co-create ventures with exceptional founders by trading our systems expertise and strategic direction for equity and board-level influence.
Our Unfair Advantage
We see business operations, product roadmaps, and technical architecture as one interconnected system. Most founders get technical help or strategic help. We offer both simultaneously.
This isn't consulting—it's co-founding. We trade our expertise for equity and board-level influence, functioning as your technical and strategic co-founder from day one.
What We Provide
Dual co-founder value: technical execution + strategic business direction
Technical Co-Founding
- •Systems architecture & rapid code execution
- •Infrastructure & automation design
- •Technical decision-making authority
- •MVP execution (8-12 weeks typical)
Strategic Business Direction
- •Operational systems design
- •Workflow & process architecture
- •Business model validation
- •Systems-level business intelligence
Product Management
- •What to build (and what not to build)
- •Feature prioritization via systems lens
- •Roadmap design tied to business outcomes
- •MVP scope definition & sequencing
Partnership Structure
Three models, prioritized by alignment with our venture studio thesis
Equity Co-Creation
We function as your technical and strategic co-founder in exchange for meaningful equity and board-level influence.
What We Require
- Equity stake negotiated based on stage, scope, and lift. Typical ranges:
- • Pre-product/idea stage (heaviest lift): 25-40%
- • Early MVP/seed stage: 15-25%
- • Existing product (advisory + optimization): 10-20%
- • Full venture execution: Equity aligned with total scope
- Structured as standard technical co-founder model:
- • Entity stake (Takeeda): Technical execution and ongoing support
- • Personal co-founder stake: Board service and strategic guidance
- Board seat with co-decision authority on technical and product strategy
- Vesting structured to align with milestone delivery (entity) and board service (personal)
Ideal Founder Profile
- Domain expert who needs technical + strategic co-founder
- Comfortable diluting for speed + clarity
- Values operational systems thinking
- Coachable on technical + strategic fronts
Not a Fit If
- You need a dev shop to execute your detailed spec
- You're not comfortable with equity dilution
- You want to retain 100% technical decision authority
- You're looking for short-term contract work
What You Get
- •Speed to market: MVP in 8-12 weeks (vs 6-12 months solo)
- •Strategic clarity: Product roadmap and prioritization framework
- •Technical foundation: Production-ready systems architecture
- •Ongoing guidance: Board-level strategic support post-launch
- •Portfolio network: Access to Takeeda's venture ecosystem
Success Metrics
- •MVP launch: Production-ready product in market
- •Technical validation: Architecture scales to 10x+ volume
- •Product-market fit: Validated assumptions, clear roadmap
- •Founder readiness: Equipped to lead technical + product decisions
- •Fundraise-ready: Positioning and traction for seed/Series A
Timeline Expectations
Total time from first call to MVP launch: Typically 3-4 months
Strategic R&D Partnership
Joint exploration of systems patterns where both parties benefit from shared learnings and IP. Typically involves co-ownership of resulting tools, frameworks, or methodologies.
Fixed-Fee Validation
Cash-based technical validation or feasibility studies. Reserved exclusively for work that validates our own portfolio thesis areas or teaches us reusable patterns. No equity exchange.
What We Don't Do
We're not a dev shop, consultancy, or agency—here's what we explicitly avoid
Staff Augmentation or Time-and-Materials Work
We don't provide developers on hourly rates or fill gaps in your engineering team. We co-found, we don't staff.
Build-to-Spec Agency Work
We're not a dev shop for hire. We require strategic co-design authority and won't execute someone else's technical spec.
Ongoing Maintenance, Support, or Retainers
All engagements are milestone-based with clear endpoints. We don't offer long-term support contracts or open-ended retainers.
Marketing, Design, or Growth Consulting
Our focus is technical systems, product strategy, and operational design. We don't do branding, go-to-market strategy, or growth hacking.
Exploratory Consulting Without Equity
We need a clear problem statement and scope. If you're not ready to exchange equity for our expertise, we're not the right partner.
How Co-Creation Works
Our equity partnership process is deliberate and milestone-driven
Initial Fit Assessment
Share your problem, domain expertise, and vision. We'll assess alignment with our thesis, evaluate equity structure feasibility, and discuss board/advisory expectations.
Equity Term Sheet
If there's strong alignment, we'll draft terms: equity percentage (scaled to stage and scope), dual-layer structure (entity + personal), vesting schedule, board seat, co-decision authority scope, and milestone definitions.
Paid Scoping Phase
Before equity exchange, we conduct a paid scoping engagement (typically 2-4 weeks) to validate technical feasibility, define MVP milestones, and establish success criteria.
Co-Founding Agreement
Formalize equity structure, vesting terms, governance rights, IP ownership, and exit provisions. Legal review on both sides. Equity begins vesting upon milestone completion.
Sprint-Based Execution
Work proceeds in 2-week sprints with explicit checkpoints. You get regular strategic guidance via board meetings or advisory calls, plus continuous technical execution visibility.
Milestone Vesting & Handoff
As milestones complete, equity vests. At MVP completion, we transition to board/advisory-only role with ongoing strategic guidance but no day-to-day execution (unless separately negotiated).
Ready to Build Together?
If you're a domain expert seeking a technical and strategic co-founder who works for equity, we'd like to hear from you.
Response time: 2-3 business days • Equity conversations only